Prophesies Of Old

Joel 2:23-32

I'm currently reading an interesting and challenging book. "Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity" by Felten and Procter-Murphy is interesting in that it tells stories which hold my attention. It's a challenging book because it does exactly that; it challenges me. So far it has challenged my belief on many biblical understandings, especially as they pertain to Christianity.

Is the birth narrative necessary in order for me to believe Jesus is a divine presence?  Why do the writings of Paul have glaringly varied voices? Is the resurrection of Christ a physical one and does it matter?

Yes, very challenging, and very interesting.

Yesterday I began the chapter on social justice. It not only mentioned how Jesus was an absolute champion of social justice, but that he also followed in the footsteps of other great prophets. Hosea, Habakkuk, Amos, Micah, Jeremiah, and the others all spoke out against the social injustices of their day, something Jesus did very well himself.

The prophets made it known that those who are in charge and using the laws of religion to divide and separate people are making things really bad for themselves and the people of God. The prophets point out that the message of God is not to live in a rules and reward system, but to provide for those who have less than they need to survive.

The widows, orphans, sick, imprisoned, and others who have been outcast by a hierarchical society are being lifted up and pointed out by these prophets in order for the church and government leaders to see them for who they are - children of God who are in need of unconditional acceptance.

By now you should know I'm a word guy. I like to know the meaning of words. If we look up the meaning of prophesy in today's dictionaries we will see it defined as foretelling the future. However, when we look at the Hebrew meaning as used in the Hebrew Bible we will see that it means to be under the influence of a divine spirit while speaking out against false prophets.

What happened to the meaning of that word between its original use and today is only a mystery. Somehow we've taken the prophets as someone who spoke out against false teachings of God's vision to someone who can tell the future. Somehow we've taken the words of the prophets in saying, "If you keep going the way you're going, things are going to be bad, really bad" to, "I predict that in the future things will get bad."

Maybe it's time we begin to listen to the prophets of today in the same way the Israelites were supposed to listen to the prophets of old. There are a lot of people telling us that if we don't change our ways things are going to get bad. Climate change, sexual orientation equality, care for the poor, the ability to afford a home, the ability to afford basic health care, and so much more are being lifted up and pointed out by so many prophets. It's a sad statement to have to say that those voices are being drowned out by the voices who say none of those things, none of them, are a part of God's plan according to God's word.

God's word is one of love, real, true, non-judgmental, all-accepting, take care of those who need taking care of, reach out to those who are suffering, love. Anything less is exactly what the prophets are warning us against.